Nowadays, there are several types of photovoltaic cells on the solar market. There are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous silicon panels, which differ in their properties, performance and cost.
Monocrystalline panels
As the name suggests, these are made from monocrystalline silicon and their colour can range from dark blue to black. They are made by cutting silicon crystals and have bevelled corners. They are characterised by good resistance to mechanical damage and extremes of temperature, in addition to being very efficient. These are the most expensive sort of cells.
Polycrystalline panels
This type of a panel is made of polycrystalline silicon that is made up of many single crystals. It can be easily recognized with its light blue colour and crystal edges. The cells are square in shape. Polycrystalline photovoltaic panels are considered less efficient and more susceptible to high temperatures. They are popular due to their lower price than monocrystalline modules.
Amorphous silicon panels
This is the least popular type of a photovoltaic cell. The main reason is the low efficiency of such cells. Another thing is the quick loss of the quality. These are the cheapest of all the types so they can be considered the biggest advantage. They are also flexible because of their small weight and no complications with the installation. They can be used even on the façade of a building.
In summary:
if you care about efficiency – choose monocrystalline panels,
if you expect good quality at a decent price – choose polycrystalline panels.
On the other hand, if you do not have the possibility of installing a heavy installation, lightweight amorphous panels will work.
